FIngering the trigger
In the back of his mind Koel knew he had slept through his last class. He’d just about jolted out of his skin at the sound of the lunch bell, blinking out of his daze both confused and rattled. Though his eyes hadn’t closed, and he was sitting up straight, he’d been completely lost to the world. He hadn’t even heard a word the teacher had said all class.
With a groan Koel shoved his books into his shoulder bag, cleaning off his desk in a single sweep. He failed his last three tests in math, and here he was dozing away through the pre-exam crunch time.
Speaking of…
Koel hauled his bag up and onto his shoulder, running a hand through his curly, shoulder-length black hair. He followed the swell of people out into the hallway, subconsciously letting his hand drop down to the swelling on his cheek. He winced.
Frank had never hit him in the face before.
It made him nervous, to wear his secret so openly. Not that anyone would ask him about it anyway…
Koel ducked down as the crowd bustled forward, fighting against the flow of students pouring towards the cafeteria.
He was meeting his tutor for the first time today. If they got on well, he’d be studying with them every day after school, at least until exams. Which meant an excuse to keep away from the house for a while. He could even keep Hazel with him while they studied.
It was a bit like a vacation.
Koel couldn’t help but smile, stepping into the library and heading towards the back of the room. He was meeting one of the grade twelve AP students, a junior named Harlan. He wasn’t worried about missing the older boy, his bright blue hair stuck out in any room.
Besides, they’d met a few times before. Harlan worked in the library, and quite frankly Koel lived there during most of his free academic time.
Harlan seemed nice.
Though Koel didn’t really expect much, he never expected anything from anybody. Though he couldn’t help but feel a slight flutter of excitement as he locked eyes on Harlan at the tables at the back. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
He carefully approached the boy, sidling up to the table and standing awkwardly at Harlan where he sat.
“Um, Harlan right?”
With a groan Koel shoved his books into his shoulder bag, cleaning off his desk in a single sweep. He failed his last three tests in math, and here he was dozing away through the pre-exam crunch time.
Speaking of…
Koel hauled his bag up and onto his shoulder, running a hand through his curly, shoulder-length black hair. He followed the swell of people out into the hallway, subconsciously letting his hand drop down to the swelling on his cheek. He winced.
Frank had never hit him in the face before.
It made him nervous, to wear his secret so openly. Not that anyone would ask him about it anyway…
Koel ducked down as the crowd bustled forward, fighting against the flow of students pouring towards the cafeteria.
He was meeting his tutor for the first time today. If they got on well, he’d be studying with them every day after school, at least until exams. Which meant an excuse to keep away from the house for a while. He could even keep Hazel with him while they studied.
It was a bit like a vacation.
Koel couldn’t help but smile, stepping into the library and heading towards the back of the room. He was meeting one of the grade twelve AP students, a junior named Harlan. He wasn’t worried about missing the older boy, his bright blue hair stuck out in any room.
Besides, they’d met a few times before. Harlan worked in the library, and quite frankly Koel lived there during most of his free academic time.
Harlan seemed nice.
Though Koel didn’t really expect much, he never expected anything from anybody. Though he couldn’t help but feel a slight flutter of excitement as he locked eyes on Harlan at the tables at the back. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
He carefully approached the boy, sidling up to the table and standing awkwardly at Harlan where he sat.
“Um, Harlan right?”